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and annexation be forced upon us we would require vastly more than the territory lying between Kowloon and the East River and the faking of that strip at the present moment would be calculated to precipitate a scramble in which it is possible that British interests in other parts of China might suffer." I really fail to see that taking what is a very wise and necessary step at the present juncture, when the annexation of that aggressive district of Tungkun is to a certain extent forced upon us, and which will give us possession of the very important Bogue Forts, will be precipitating a scramble; for none of the other Powers are prepared at the moment for that scramble and any moderation on our part will not influence them in modifying the programme they have laid down for themselves, judging by analogy. In the light of the past, is it not a fact that a disinclination on our part to take re- sponsibilities which our destinies mark out as necesary for the protection of our prestige and our trade is the signal for them to advance claims that they would otherwise never have dreamt of making? France might pick a quarrel with China to-morrow-there is never wanting an excuse for one-seize the Bogus Forts, and then refuse to vacate them. We should then be under the unpleasant necessity of accepting the situation or declaring war on her by turning her out. Sunou is essentially & mountainous district and a poor district, but we will without doubt render it prosperous when developed. Tungkan, however, is a fertile delta, every inch of which is cultivated; a dis- trict where foods and famines are unknown and a large importer of foreign goods as well 88 an exporter of rice and manufactured goods. Tungkun, with its network of creeks, hardly requires roads and will at once yield a revenus for administrative purposes without requiring a large outlay for public works. If the two districts Sunon and Tungkun are ad- ministered together they will form the nucleus of our future Chinese dominions. If we will want much more let us begin by the gradual absorption of the adjacent districts, and having them under control we will find less difficulty in taking over and administering larger areas, both ourselves and the people learning how to adjust the machinery of government to the requirements of those we are to rule over.
As to a Custom-house for Hongkong, such need not be the case if Hongkong and the New Territory are under separate administratious, Hongkong remaining a free port.
Failing this the present claims we have on account of duplicity and invasion on the part of the Chinese, should be pressed and British Re- sidents appointed to the adjoining districts. BRITISHER.
Hongkong, 2nd May, 1899.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND actions and can vouch for the fact that "for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain the Heathen's Customs is peculiar."
What I am now grieving over is that owing to the etiquette of the Press I cannot ask for the identity of your correspondent "Truth," as I feel particularly anxious to sit at his feet and learn to amend some of my stupidity by drinking in the wisdom which he infers is so abounding in himself. He is evidently either a member of or connected in some way with that estimable service which he champions.
FAN KWAI.
Hongkong, 3rd May, 1899.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS.” DEAR SIR,-In your issue of the 2nd inst., in the leading article, you say that the I. M. Customs have an office in London and compare that institution with the Kowloon head office in the Queen's Road. I now submit that the two cases are not analogons. The London office is a commercial agency. The Kowloon head office | is an office where executive functions are carried on, fines inflicted, petitions heard, and, in short, the Commissioner carries out the duties of his office in the same way as at an outport. Hisevery act in the British colony of Hongkong is highly illegal. Nor is this all. Informers are heard and paid in this establishment, and thus we nourish in our midst a hand on the throat of the commerce of Hongkong. With the usual apologies,-I remain, yours truly,
Hongkong, 3rd May, 1899.
TIENTSIN.
H. H. B.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsin, 19th April.
The Italian affair is in statu quo; coupled with the Belgian demands at Hankow and the impending visit of Danish cruisers, accom- panied on dit by two Swedish vessels, it has aroused Chinese officialdom as nothing else has since 1895. Captains Yeh and Sa, the two senior officers of the Chinese Navy, and two of Admiral Lang's best men, have been summoned y wire to Peking. They had protracted inter- views with the Naval and Provincial authorities here on their way through, and two days ago were received in audience by the Shi Tai Ho and Kwang Ssu. I am confident that they have been consulted on the subject of resistance should any minor Power try force on the Chin- ese littoral.
b
There is a general impression in Naval circles that one or both of these gentlemen will shortly be raised to flag rank. Unlike the late Admiral Ting, they are both practical sailors, educated at Foochow and Greenwich and subsequently serving under Admirals 'Ira-
THE CHINESE IMPERIAL MARITIME cey and Lang.
CUSTOMS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
SIR,-I beg to trespass again on your space to make reply to the letter, under the above heading, signed "Truth." He says that he does not know my intentions in asking you to publish my opinions re Sir Robert Hart's pro- posals for the establishment of his authority, in various forms, in our midst. At the time that I wrote my previous letter and when I sent it off, I was unaware that the Government had wisely declined to entertain the prepos- terous proposals put forward. Had I been aware of that fact I should have considered my letter unnecessary; its object was to, by well deserved satire, prevent their acceptance. Had there not been some hope entertained of their acceptance the proposals would hardly have been advanced by that veteran Chinese diplomat the head of the Customs.
"}
Truth (I dispute his title to that name) says the Chinese Customs controlled by a man who knows his business. I take that to mean who knows what he wants. In this case he knows now what he is not going to get.
Truth," further, says that he has reason to believe that the rules, regulations, and actions of the Chinese Customs are not intelligible to persons like myself. Unfortunately for his theory, I have reason for being intimately soquainted with said rules, regulations, and
With the arrival in June of the two new Elswick cruisers and the four Elbau destroyers China will again have some naval potency, pro- vided she can find the personel. Of this there is some doubt, as most of the crews and junior officers were utterly neglected after the capture of Weihaiwei, and lapsed back into civil life. I personally know a few of the ex-officers. The utter hopelessness of promotion by merit or seniority disgusted them with the Service and in no case are they desirous to return.
The Anglo-Italian combination known as the Peking Syndicate is being pushed into public prominence by many little occult and overt impulses. We are informed up here by Signor Luzzati that Mr. George Jamieson has accepted a seat at the Board. This is our first intima- tion that that destinguished Consul bad retired from H.M. Service. An item has also been communicated to the Press for publicity that Li Hung-chang has applied for £4,000 worth of shares. This stone is probably meant to kill a couple of birds: it may lead to enhanced confidence in the investing public, and it may, in the satrap's opinion, tend to rehabilitate him in the good graces of the British public,
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May 6, 1809.
anything requiring courage, nous, and respon- sibility has to be done in Chinese foreign affairs you may depend Li will be called in, simply and solely because the other big officials will all re- fuse.
In Tientsin we have had real excitement. over a new departure in the handling of export cargo by the pooled steamer companies. They issued a short notice that shippers must them- selves take the responsibility of getting the cargo down stream and alongside the steamers. The shippers objected strongly to the shortness of the notice and to the application of the new method during running contracts. Through the medium of the Chamber of Commerce they resisted, and took up an equally haughty and aggressive attitude. The three companies will not budge and war has practically been declared by the shippers inviting (in their private capa- city) Messrs. Siemssen, Messrs. Melchers in Hongkong, and the Japanese to enter into com- petition with the monopolists. They have even gone further and are now trying to boycott the P. & O., the Blue Funnels, and the Glens from carrying Tientsin staff home; they probably hope these big fellows will bring pressure to bear on the little fellows (the coasters). The whole quarrel has arisen in the difficulties of naviga- ting our ditch, velept Pei Ho. It is to be regretted on every account. Impartial ob servers cannot resist the conclusion that a little less obtrusivenes and a little more of the suaviter in modo on both sides might have obviated the whole thing!
Meanwhile the river is improving; thanks to the works in hand. Last week a large steamer reached the Bund. Unhappily she stuck for two days on going down stream, and her ex-. perience has deterred others. The deep draught lighters of the Taku Tug and Lighter Co. when drawing 6 feet find no trouble with the channel.
Socially we are subsiding from the high" spirits of the winter, sport is, however, in the ascendant. We brought off our fist Bicycle Gymkhama with great success, the ladies especi, ally distinguishing themselves. The Tourney Club has nearly sixty members, and the "wheel”. fervour is even infecting the Sons of Han.
Griffins are retiring into the seclusion of a prohibitive price, thanks to combination on the part of the dealers. This will, if not obvialed, greatly affect junior owners and beginners. The low price of ponies has always given the small men a chance on the Tientsin turf, but if things go on as at present, racing will be come a privilege only of the well-to-do. Our races are fixed for May 15th, 16th, and 17th. Cricket is in evidence. The Club has taken a bold step in challenging Shanghai.. If those Capuans could come up, no doubt Peking would also like to try issues with them, and a North v. South might be had in addition to the Tien- tain v. Shanghai.
There is an unusual shuffle in the official cards this spring, Consular and Customs men are being changed ad libitum. Mr. Drew, of Canton, succeeds Mr. A. G. Hippisley in the Commissionership here. Mr. J. R. Brazier's many friends in the South will be glad to hear of his promation to Secretary-in-chief, with the rank of a Senior Commissioner.
Not a few in Hongkong will regret to hear of the death of Mr. R. A. Anderson, of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, in Peking last week. Mr. Anderson only came up a mouth ago from Shanghai to assist the Peking staff in a press of business; he succumbed to typhoid. He was greatly liked and esteemed for his business and social qualities and his death is widely and deeply regretted.
THE DOCKING OF THE ** VICTORIOUS.”
DIFFICULTY · AT YOKOSUKA,
Nagasaki, 26th April. Considerable difficulty is being experienced in docking H.M.8. Victorious at Yokosuka. Everything that could possibly be moved, in- Li is none the worse for his winter sojourn cluding all except the biggest guns, down even near the Huang Ho: indeed the two or three to the middies chests, has been taken out of foreigners who have seen him think that phy-the mammoth battleship, but she must still be sically he is in better form than at "any lightened nine inches before she can enter the time since the war. His levees both here and dock. Advantage will be taken of a high tide in Peking are entirely adverse to the opinion next Tuesday to make a final attempt Naga that he is a stranded politician. The moment saki Press.”